A gunman opened fire Wednesday morning at a public transit rail yard in San Jose, California, killing at least eight co-workers and wounding others, Deputy Russell Davis of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office said.
The gunman, an employee of the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), is dead, Davis said. Law enforcement officers didn't exchange gunfire with the gunman and investigators believe he took his own life, Davis said.
Here's what we know about the shooting:
The gunman: He has been identified as Sam Cassidy, a law enforcement source with knowledge of the investigation confirmed to CNN. San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo told CNN's Jake Tapper that "the victims and all the colleagues knew the shooter well." Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith said the victims worked together and were there this morning together.
The shooting: The shooting began just after 6:30 a.m. PT when several 911 calls reported shots fired near a VTA control center, a hub that stores light rail trains and a maintenance yard, Davis said.
The victims: While the names of the victims have not been released, Liccardo said he has spoken to three families. The mayor described the victims, VTA employees, as “essential workers” who risked their lives and showed up every day throughout the pandemic.
The motive: Investigators are looking into the gunman's motive. Authorities are also investigating a fire at what is believed to be the gunman's home, a source close to the investigation told CNN.
An American epidemic: President Biden sent his sympathies to the victims' families and called for Congress to act on gun law reform. "Once again, I urge Congress to take immediate action and heed the call of the American people, including the vast majority of gun owners, to help end this epidemic of gun violence in America," Biden said. The mass shooting is the 232nd incident in which at least four people were shot in the US so far this year, according to a tally by the Gun Violence Archive.